On Sunday, April 22, the Virginia Anti-Violence Project will renew their collaboration with TheatreLAB and Richmond Triangle Players to present a showing of NERVE: Stories Of Queer Resilience at the Robert B. Moss Theatre. The play had its origins in 2015, when creators Melissa Rayford and Chandler Hubbard first partnered with VAVP to bring stories from the LGBTQ community to the stage.

In a style somewhat reminiscent of The Vagina Monologues, NERVE features several stories told by different actors — some with a group, some by themselves — over the course of its 45-minute length. This is the second time it has been revived since its original staging in 2015, and this performance will be the first to include stories in both English and Spanish, with simultaneous interpretation available for the audience.

“Helping give voice to the courage and resilience that VAVP sees in diverse LGBTQ+ communities every day is something that NERVE is able do in a powerfully vivid and real way,” VAVP director Stacie Vecchietti said in a statement. “We know that queer and trans folks, particularly those of us that are black and brown, experience disproportionate levels of abuse, harassment, and violence, both interpersonally and state sanctioned. VAVP also knows that our communities possess and exhibit disproportionate levels of beauty, power, and resilience. The essence of NERVE is about shining a light, bearing witness, and starting to have conversations about the complexities of all of our identities and experiences.”

This year’s cast will include actress Lucretia Anderson, who is appearing as part of the production for the third time, as well as Billy Christopher Maupin, co-founder and Associate Artistic Director Emeritus of 5th Wall Theatre, who has been honored as part of Style’s Top 40 Under 40; and actor/activist Sara Heifetz, who has previously appeared in other Richmond Triangle Players productions, including The Laramie Project, a previous VAVP/RTP collaboration.

Co-creator Melissa Rayford returns once again to her role as director of NERVE. “It has been such an honor to be at the helm of NERVE for the past two years and to once again move into this process with the amazing people involved,” she said in a statement. “The stories we have been privileged to share are inspiring, as is the coming together of three Richmond Organizations (VAVP, TheatreLAB, and Richmond Triangle Players) to help ensure that they are told. It is important, especially in times like these, to make sure that our queer family members have a voice and a platform from which to be heard. NERVE is a celebration of these stories that so often get overlooked. It is inspiring, educational, difficult, and wonderful. Please don’t miss it!”

The revival of NERVE: Stories Of Queer Resilience will take place on Sunday, April 22 at Richmond Triangle Players’ Robert B. Moss Theatre, located at 1300 Altamont Ave in Scott’s Addition. The show begins at 7 PM. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased here. For more information, click here.

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